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Sign, Symbol, Syntax
Elena Strada, Lucio Perna, Antonio Pizzolante

June 26  thru August 29 2010
Opening hours: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays: 10-12 am / 3.00 - 7.00 pm
Tickets: Euro 2.60   cut- rate tickets:  Euro 1.60

The exhibit will open on Saturdays, July 3, 2010 at 6.00 pm

Pressrelease

Museo Civico di Maccagno collaborates again with Galleria Errepiarte in Mantova, as it did in 2009
during the “Festival della Letteratura” (Literature Festival), which is held in Città Estense every year at
the beginning of September.
On that occasion, the Civico Museo (sponsored by Province and Comune of Mantova) hosted the
exhibition “Allegorie della scrittura” (Allegories of Writing). It was a successful and meaningful
experience.
The 2010 program brings us the exhibit “Sign, Symbol, Syntax,” which features works by three
contemporary Lombardic artists: Elena Strada, Lucio Perna, Antonio Pizzolante.

The exhibit will be open from June 26 to August 29 in Maccagno (sponsored by Regione Lombardia,
Comune of Maccagno and Provincia of Varese, Comune and Provincia of Mantova). It will then be
moved to Mantova, where the works will be on display from September 4 to October 3, 2010.
The exhibit Sign, Symbol, Syntax is a natural evolution of the previous exhibitions that were part of the
cycle called “Metaphors”. These were hosted by the Museum in Maccagno and focused on
contemporary artistic languages. At the same time, within the Literature Festival in Mantova, the
“metaphors” referred to words and dialog, and to the deepest meaning of graphic signs at the root of
communication: sintax of civilization.

The three artists’ different personalities interpret the concepts the exhibit is based on, in a dynamic whirl
of references and visual dialects that offers the public suggestive fuel for thoughts.
Elena Strada’s spontaneous and decisive signs go back in time to humanity’s first graffitis that were the
first trace of written words. She digs into time itself, turning the canvas into music sheets of emotions.
Lucio Perna’s vision is a look into the infinite space of existence, a path that follows the map of
memories, a personal diary written on an ancient scroll.
Antonio Pizzolante’s structures enclose time, roots, relics… the present’s transparency floats in mid air,
but voices of long-gone eras filter through. His syntax is that of sacred lands, humble people, choirs and
faith.

Elena Strada was born in Milan in 1967. She attends the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan,
where she gets her diploma in 1989. Her debut, in a collective exhibit, is in the same year in Parma. Her
first personal exhibition is in Modena in 1994 and she’s been displaying her works in private galleries
and public buildings both in Italy and abroad (Challans, France in 2005). She takes part regularly in
international collective ehibits (such as those in Ravensburg – Germany - and Bled – Slovenia) and is
often invited to national competitions. She lives and works in saronno, in the province of Varese.

Lucio Perna was born in Palmi (province of Reggio Calabria) in 1946. He moves to Milan at the end of
the 1960’s. Here he gets in touch with the artistic environment of the big city and follows courses to
perfection his technique. His first exhibition is in 1993 in Milan. Since then, his works have been
displayed in personal and collective exhibitions, as well as in competitions both in private and public
galleries, mostly in Italy. He lives and works in Milan.

Antonio Pizzolante was born in Castrignano del Capo (province of Lecce) in 1958. He studies
scenography at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Lecce. At the end of the 1980’s he moves to Laveno,
where he teaches arts in high schools. His first personal exhibit of many to come is in Switzerland in
1977. He’s invited to many collective exhibits and competitions, both private and public, in Italy and
abroad (Caen and Paris - France - Bad Vöslau – Austria - Castell d’Aro, Santa Pau, Santa Susanna and
Saragozza – Spain – and Magliaso in Switzerland). He receives an award at the First Art Biennale of
Ankara in Turkey, in 2005. He lives and works in Laveno (Varese).

The exhibition will feature 45 works in Maccagno, while the exhibit in Mantova will display a smaller
number of works due to logistic problems.
The exhibit is designed by Claudio Rizzi and its goal is to once again display contemporary works that
are free from old parameters and strive to express a personal, inner world able to connect with the
observer’s emotions.